June 14: Isaiah 46
Deuteronomy 19; Psalm 106; Isaiah 46; Revelation 16
Isaiah gives God’s people three reasons to follow Him faithfully.1
First, in v. 1-2, he vividly portrays the impotence of the gods of Babylon - Bel and Nebo. Their worshipers have to carry them around on the backs of pack animals, and one day, those animals will give way, and those gods will fall. Tomorrow? No. But does your town have a First Church of Nebo? A Chapel of Bel? Neither does mine. But there are plenty devoted to worshiping Yahweh. And our iPhones will barely last a day, before we have to charge them. Idolatry never changes.
Secondly, in v. 3-7, God reassures His people of His steadfast love. Like the rest of God, His love is holy, holy, holy, which means it is unbreakable, never ending (3-4). He keeps His promises; He finishes what He starts. How does that compare to your false gods, O Israel (5-7). God will carry and save (4), but your gods, you have to carry them. Do they relieve your burdens, or are you the pack animal, that’s burdened under their weight? When you cry out to them, what do they reply, besides dead silence? Compare them to Me, God says; I’ll wait (5).
Thirdly, in v. 8-13, God calls His people to remember His past deeds for confidence (8), that what He promises to do, He will do. He is God, unlike any other (9). He will call this Cyrus (11), and Cyrus will return His people. God works all things according to the purpose of His grace, for the good of those who love Him (11-13; Romans 8:28). Listen, therefore, and bet your life on His words.
Carson, FTLoG:2, June 14.